Florida Keys

We arrived in the Florida Keys (the string of islands south of Florida, that are connected by one highway) on Thursday, this last week. Apparently there are 1700 islands that make up the Keys, 43 of which are connected by the highway. We happen to be staying on Big Pine Key, about in the middle of the string of islands. Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit a rescue hospital for sea turtles. This was really neat...we got to learn about the different types of sea turtles, see the hospital/surgical room/rehab facility and get up close and personal with several sea turtles under observation/recovery. It was a wonderful way to spend a cool, rainy afternoon in the Keys. Our Paige was certainly excited and inspired as we spent a couple hours here...I predict a veterinarian may be her career choice or possibly a marine biologist...she just absolutely LOVES all creatures, turtles in particular!!

The surgical room where turtles are operated on. The most common procedures...removal of intestinal blockages, tumor removals and shell repair from boat propeller encounters.

 

The rehab salt water tanks, there on the right of the picture...a large swimming pool for those turtles who are doing really well and small fiberglass tanks for individual turtles who are in "ICU"

 

This poor loggerhead turtle had a run-in with a boat and had just had surgery. It's recovery was still somewhat doubtful as it's injuries were quite severe. If you look closely, you can see narrow metal strips that were screwed into it's shell to repair the gash in the shell.

 

This green turtle was recovering from tumor removal. It was doing really well and about to be moved to the big pool to begin preparing for it's future release back into the ocean.

 

Look at this little cutie!! A newborn who had just been rescued. It will be releases soon, as there was nothing really wrong with it...just brought there by some tourists who found it while they were out fishing.

 

This guy came in with his left front flipper entangled with fishing line and completely unusable. His flipper was extremely swollen after surgery and he was getting daily rehab sessions, one we got to witness!!

 

This is a permanent resident...she has no left front flipper, therefore couldn't survive on her own in the wild.

 

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